Thrust bearing



H. F. SCHMIDT.

THRUST BEARING.

Patented May 2, 1922.

i k k JV \\\v\ K INVENTOR.

HIS ATTORNEY IN I FACT a bearing in which means UNl'i'EBfiTATEd FATENT @FFEQE.

HENRY F. SCHMIDT, OF

WILKINSBURG. PENNSYLVANIA, ASSEGNOB 'I'O WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING 00., A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

THRUST BEARING.

Application filed April 29; 1913.

improved thrust bearing in which relatively high pressures per unit of bearing surface maybe safely employe A further object is to produce a thrust are employed for preventing undue concentration of load on any portion of the bearing surfaces.

A further object is to produce a thrust bearing of the type in which the thrust is transmitted to a stationary orfoundation member by means of a Seriesof'segmental shoes; and which is simpler and morecompact than other bearings-of this type now in useand'known to me. V i

A further object is to produce a thrust bearing in which improved means are employed-for distributing the load across the bearing surfaces and for, ensuring adequate lubrication of the surfaces. y g

These and other objects which will be made apparent throughout the further description of the invention are attained by means of apparatus embodying the features herein described and illustrated.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part hereof, Fig. 1 is a more or less diagrammatic sectional view of a thrust bearing embodying my invention The section is takenalon-g the line 1-1 of Fig.2 and the stationary member or casing of the bearing is shown in fragmental section for convenience of illustration.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view along the broken line 2-2 .of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental perspectiveview of a detail of apparatus embodying my invention. v

The apparatus illustrated as an embodiment of my invention includes a rotatable shaft 5', a stationary member 6 for receiving the longitudinal thrust of the shaft, and a plurality of yieldingly supported agents 7 for transmittinglongitudinal thrusts of the shaft to the member 6 As shown, the age t 7 a e in he f r of g ntal shoe $pecification of letters Patent.

the form of a casing the cooperating sets course, be understood that the casing 6 may face of the collar 10.

Serial No. 231,373.

and; are arranged in two sets 8 and'9 on op pos te sides of a bearing member 10 with vwhich the shaft is provided. As illusthrust collar integrally formed on the shaft or separatel, formed and so mounted on the shaft as to .efl'ectively transmit longitudinal thrusts of theshaft to one or the other of the vtwo sets of shoes 7. The stationary member 6 may be of any suitable form capable of transmitting thrusts of the shaft toythe foundation member, but is shown in for the collar 10 and of shoes 7. lt'will, of

be mounted on a pedestal or otherwise arranged to transmit the thrust imparted tolit to'a foundation member, such for example as a shipsstructure, in case ing isemployed .peller shaft of a ship. 7

As shown, the shoes. 7 are" of segmental shape and the shoes of each set are equally shaft 5 and are arranged spaced around the face of the collar 10.

to engage a lateral Each shoe is mounted on "a resilient arm 11 and in this a is yieldingly supported by the casing 6. In the illustrated embodiment each arm "is shown as -integrally formed with its cooperating shoe and with a mounting ring 13 which is suitably mounted on the casing 6. All of the arms 11 cooperating with the shoes of one set areformed integrally with one ring 13. Each arm 11 is so formed and so located with relation to the shoes supported only capable of yielding in response to longitudinal thrust of the shaft '5,vbut'is also capable of tilting so that. its bearing face is capable of moving to an angular position with relation to the cooperating bearin The longitudina yielding of each shoe in response to longitudinal thrust imparted occasions a substantially equal distribution of pressure over all the shoes of the operating set and consequently it is practically impossible for one o'r more of the 'shoesto be materially overloaded by reason of a shght misalignment or other defect in workmanship m the bearing. For this reason, a relatively high pressure per unit of bearing surface the thrust bear- 1n connection with the proby it that; the shoe is not Patented May 2 1922.

Itrated, the bearing member 10 consists of a v be made smal d more 25 ning ofthe oil film beneath the shoe, the

' ing face of the shoe.

ation the tilting action takes place about r and the adjacent faceof the thrust collar, Thistrapping action of the lubricant may 1 through a port 14 formed in. the'casing ti a radial line intermediate the forward and trailing edges of the shoe, and results in the trapping of a relatively thick film of lubricant between the bearing face of the shoes be facilitated by so mounting each shoe ,on its mounting arm 11 that the point ofunion between the shoe and the arm. is located nearer the trailing edge of the shoe than the forward edge. This arrangement of the shoe with relation to its mounting arm is a clearly shownin Fig.3.; Aslight rounding of the shoe will further of'the forward edge facilitate the oil trapping action of the shoe. It ,Will, vof course, be understood that the tilting of-the shoe occasions a gradual thinthickerfportion' of the film being located at the forward edgeofthe'shoe and the thin er portion at the trailing edge.

I Lubricant maybe delivered'to the bearing abovethe shoes-7'. :Wheie acontinuousfiow cated" at any point'within the easingg'but will preferablybe located at ornear the horizontalp'lane passing through the axis of the lubricant free delivery of lubricant to the bearing faces of the collar 10. I11 the drawing I grooves 17 1 formed 5 5 7.

shaft, so as toensure an adequate supply of lubricant to the collar 10. The spaces be.

tween the se'gmental shoes ofeach'set form delivery passages which permit a have illustrated bafiies for deflecting the for retaining bearing shoes.-

71 be made of l.. -shaped in an annular baffle 16 which ma sheet metaland is substantiall cross section. The outer peripheral edge of the baffle is-secured to the annular-casing 6 insucha way as to whereas the other edge loosely projects into in the rear faces of the near the shaft ends of the arrangement the baffles do shoes and located shoes. Withvthis not interfere with'the relative motion of the taQt-With the collar 10;

shoesiand at the same time they direct the lubricant insuoh a way that it cannot run thrqughthebearing without, coming in con- In addition ,to this, theltwoflbafiies 16, one of which cooperates, with, eachset of shoes, in effect form end v, walls-1 of a lubricantchamber surrounding the shoes and are effective in retaining suf-= -.eh'ined to size, 7 web portion may thenbe sawed for the pur-,

tions of the webwhiehjit I move; Fig. 2 clearly illustrates the contour form an oil tight joint,

ficient lubricant in contact with" the bearing to adequately lubricate short'period of time in case the oilsupply fails. V In order to absolutely prevent; the bafile 16 from hampering the relative motion the bearing for a of the shoes 7, I have shown each baffle proing ring 13 is to cast a blankincluding the 7 ring 13, an 'annular{ web, from which the arms are subseq ently formed, and a flange from which the? shoes are subsequently formed. This annular. blanki may be niaand' the annular fl'angezand poseof forming the segmental shoes and the'supporting' arm for the shoes; In order to render the arms 'suliiciently resilient to are subjected under normal operation, the section of the arms are reducedtof a section substantially as illustrated. in Fig. 3. Any suitable means may be employed for accomplishing this reduetionin' the section of tively accomplished'by drillingout the. poris'" desiredftog re;-

ef d by i i 'ationQ e bearing illustratedjinr Figs; 1

direction, oneor'the other" sets of shoes-iteyield to the tilting forces to which the" shoes e I the arms, but it may be cheapl'y and effecobtai ed by so fo m ng'th 'arms- The bear e s :ingffacesof'the shoesimayfbe' of lubrican't is maintainedthrough thejbear- "fi ing thelubricant discharge portmay be lomg rendered effective by 'a? longitudinal thrust in one direction along the shaftlfflt will; of course, .be apparent that a thrust bearing embodying my invention may be adapted to resist thrustin one directiononly and that under such c'ircumstances the thrust shoes would a" bearing face formed on the"end "of the Shaft 5'.

but one embodiment various cha ges, V modifications, additions and omissions may beniade. in the apparatus described and illustrated without departing "from the spirit and seopelof theinvention set forth by the appended claims. Y

What I- claim is:

having a fromthe mounting ring toward ment;

; A thrust block for a'thr'ust; bearing:

preferably cooperate with a While I hav e illustrated and described of my invention, it will beapparent to those skille'd'inthe art that Y l 11 A thrust block for a thrustflbearing comprising arigid mounting ring plurality of'integral flexible armsf extending I the centerthereof and terminating in'bearing shoes capable of independentdisplace thereof and terminating in bearing shoes capable of independent displacement axially of the ring.

3. A thrust block for a thrust bearing comprising a rigid mounting ring having a plurality of integral flexible arms extending from the mounting ring toward thecenter thereof and terminating in bearing shoes capable of independent universal movement.

4:. The combination with a thrust bearing for a horizontal shaft having a stationary member, a bearing member on the shaft, and segmental bearing shoes yieldingly supported by the stationary member and engaging the bearing member, of a resilient oil baflle secured to the stationary member and en gaging the shoes whereby oil is confined between the bearing member and the stationary member and directed toward the contact surface of the shoes.

5. A thrust block for a thrust bearing comprising a rigid mounting ring having a plurality of integral flexible arms extending toward the centers of the rings, thence substantially at right angles and terminating in bearing shoes capable of independent displacement.

6. In a thrust bearing including stationary and rotatable members, a ring member surrounding the rotatable member and supported by the stationary member, said ring member including flexible arms extending toward the center of the ring memberand thence substantially parallel to the axis of the rotatable member, and bearing shoes carried by the extensions and cooperating with the rotatable member.

7. In a thrust block for a thrust bearing, a rigid mounting ring, and a plurality of integral flexible arms offset therefrom and terminating in bearing shoes annularly disposed in a circle of less diameter than the mounting ring.

8. In a thrust block for a thrust bearing, a rigid mounting ring, a plurality of'integral flexible arms offset therefrom, and bearing shoes carried thereby annularly disposed in a circle'of less diameter than the mounting ring and in a different lane.

In testimony whereof, have hereunto subscribed my name this 27th day of April, 1918.

HENRY F. SCHMIDT.

Witness C. W. MCGHZEE. 

